The PhD in Biochemistry offers advanced education in the principles and practice of macromolecular chemistry, mechanism, and structure. All aspects of this program are aimed at the question: how do macromolecules work? How do proteins, membranes, nucleic acids, and high-order complexes of these enormous molecules use physical-chemical principles to act in the enormous variety of contexts that underlie biological function? Faculty participating in this program share the conviction that the coherent operation of living cells, and its disruption in disease, must ultimately be understood in terms of the chemistry and physics of biological macromolecules.

Students in this program are trained for careers in basic biochemical research through:

• a rigorous curriculum of formal courses emphasizing macromolecular structure and function
• four laboratory rotations during the first academic year
• intensive thesis research in laboratories operating on the edge of discovery
• practice in conveying scientific information via expository writing and public speaking
• specialized informal seminars, discussion-groups, and journal-clubs

The bioorganic chemistry specialization of this program gives students the option of training in organic chemistry in addition to biochemistry.  The emphasis in the PhD program is placed on experimental research work to train students to carry out independen